Food scientists agree – think like criminals to beat food fraud

The IFST Consultancy Group said the horsemeat scandal challenged the way food industry and technical professionals considered traceability. Those responsible for supply chain management and developing and undertaking audits should adopt “a criminal mindset”​ to account for the likelihood of fraud, according to the group.

‘Temptation to defraud’​

“In the first instance this should include a mindset to ‘think like a criminal’ and approach the supply chain with a detailed technical knowledge in addition to considering the points within it that are susceptible to or attract the temptation to defraud,”​ said the group.

The group’s recommendation follows the advice of Professor Tony Hines, head of food security and crisis management consultancy at Leatherhead Food Research, who advised the food industry last summer to think like criminals to beat food fraud. Hines will be a key speaker in the Food Manufacture ​Group’s free one-hour webinar​ on the lessons to be learned from the horsemeat crisis to be staged at 11am on Thursday May 16. See the end of this article for more details.

Meanwhile, the IFST Consultancy group said managers should focus on key risk points such as complex supply chains, multi-step processing, and high-value items. “These aspects must be analysed in terms of commercial value as well as provenance and origin,”​ the scientists advised.

“Positioning such risk and temptation within HACCP​ [hazard analysis critical control points] is productive in that it can force the implementation of structured plan of action to mitigate the perceived risk.”​

Commercial intelligence​

The impact of regulatory, environmental and social changes on the product supply chain should also be considered. That depended upon gathering commercial intelligence, knowledge of supply chain shortages and the consideration of downstream impact, said the group.

“Such external events should be recognised as ‘red flags’ and trigger an appropriate HACCP review to account for and risk assess the perceived risk and where necessary implement control measures. The control measures may include enhanced auditing and testing schedules in line with a strong quality assurance and GMP ​[good management practice] philosophy.”​

The group summarised its view of the horsemeat crisis in four key messages:

• The activity of those involved in managing the integrity of the supply chain is largely exemplary and the IFST’s Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice 6th edition was an essential tool in implementing adequate and fit for purpose control mechanisms
• Considering the potential and temptation for fraud for commercial gain must become a key part of food safety and quality control
• Temptation of fraud or adulteration should be included as a critical control point within HACCP
• Wider horizon scanning activity that can register potential impacts on the product supply chain is desirable

Joining Hines in the webinar – Horsemeat: learning the lessons of an avoidable crisis – will be Kiti Soininen, head of Mintel’s UK food and drink research team.

Also taking part will be Andrew Rhodes, director of operations with the Food Standards Agency, and Hilary Ross, partner with business law firm and event sponsor DWF.

Book your free place here​.